AP House rejects Telangana Bill by voice vote

In a dramatic showdown with the Centre on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the state legislature on Thursday rejected the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill by a voice vote.

Speaker Nadendla Manohar put to voice vote a resolution moved by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy amid pandemonium in the House and declared it passed.

“The bill seeks to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh without any reason or basis and without arriving at a consensus and in utter disregard to the linguistic and cultural homogeneity and economic viability of both regions,” the resolution said.

The Centre is not bound by views of the Assembly as the creation of new states is the sole prerogative of Parliament. But, the development could pose a challenge to the United Progressive Alliance government. The Congress had already said the bill would be tabled in the Parliament session beginning February 5.

The chief minister, who is strongly opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh, gave a notice to the Speaker last week, seeking permission to move the resolution. “While rejecting the AP Reorganisation Bill, 2013, the Assembly resolves to request the President not to recommend the bill for introduction in Parliament as it ignores the very basis of creating Andhra Pradesh, the first linguistic state of independent India,” the resolution said.

Following two breaks due to the din, Manohar read out the resolution moved by Reddy as Seemandhra MLAs stood guard surrounding the Speaker’s podium. After announcing that a majority of the MLAs rejected the bill, Manohar said there was no point in taking up 10 other non-official resolutions as the subject was the same. He also adjourned the House sine die and announced that debate on the bill was over.